Baby's First Month at a Glance
Congratulations on your new baby! You have just brought your
baby home and are pretty excited about everything. Perhaps you
don't even mind the fact that getting a good night's sleep is
getting tougher by the day.
Getting into a routine
This is not easy, but rest assured, it will happen. By the end
of the first month, new parents discover that their baby lets
them slip into a comfortable (but exhausting) routine. If this
is your first baby, you probably feel totally amateurish. Relax,
let your baby's cues guide you and very soon you will be a
seasoned pro!
Rock-a-bye baby
Your baby will probably sleep 12-18 hours a day between regular
feedings. If you are lucky, your baby will sleep for longer
stretches at night. Do not let your one-month old baby sleep
through the night. At this age, infants need to feed at least
every 2-3 hours for healthy development. Regular feeds are also
important in stimulating your milk supply, which will get
established during the first month.
Baby is growing
By the end of one month, your baby should be able to focus on
faces, lift his head briefly when on stomach, and probably
startle in response to a loud noise. All babies reach
developmental milestones at a genetically set time, which
differs with every baby. Do not expect your baby to go by the
book. Your baby's weight might decrease in the first few days as
he loses fluids postdelivery. Most newborns stop losing weight
by the fifth day and surpass their birthweights in about fifteen
days.
Cause for concern?
More than fifty percent of babies develop newborn jaundice
because their immature livers cannot handle the extra bilirubin
(the yellow pigment) they produce. Mild to moderate
physiological jaundice requires no treatment. Others might
require medical attention in the form of bililight therapy.
Babies born by normal deliveries usually have misshapen heads.
Your baby's head will gradually attain a regular shape; you can
prevent flattening by giving her a little 'tummy time' everyday.
Colic and continuous crying are things that most parents dread.
Hours of dealing with a crying baby coupled with lack of sleep
and exhaustion can drive anyone crazy. It is vital to seek help
and give both your baby and yourself a break during spells of
colic. Time tested methods such as rocking, "the colic carry",
swaddling and soothing music can work wonders on a baby who
seems to be screaming his lungs out.
Ouch! It hurts
Your baby will receive a Hepatitis B shot in the first month of
life. This shot is not known to cause fever. Your baby will
probably cry for a few minutes and that will be all.
Allergic to milk?
Milk allergy is the most common form of food allergy in infants.
Frequent throwing up, loose watery stools and wheezing might be
signs of a milk allergy. If your baby is intolerant to milk, try
another formula before switching to soy substitutes.
Explosive bowel movements and frequent passing of gas are common
in infants and will disappear once the kinks in his bowel get
straightened out.
We are different
All new parents have numerous questions lurking in their minds,
especially first time parents. No book or article can explain
everything about your baby, who like all babies is different
from the rest. Write down the specific questions you have about
your baby to ask your healthcare provider.
Enjoy the time you spend with your baby and make the best out of
your first month together. The first month is the perfect time
to forge a bond with baby, a bond for life.